Vice President for University Relations Announces Plans to Retire

Helen Ackerman, George Mason’s vice president for university relations since 1992, has announced her plans to retire in March 2005.

President Alan Merten is expected to soon create a search committee to begin the process of finding a replacement.

Helen Ackerman

Employed at the university since 1977, Ackerman has played a leading role in increasing public awareness of the university throughout the commonwealth and the nation. Her achievements include helping to generate statewide public awareness and support for two higher education bond referenda (1992 and 2000) that resulted in funding for a significant number of capital projects at Mason, as well as at each of the public colleges and universities throughout Virginia. She also was instrumental in establishing a highly effective media relations component at Mason. Most recently, she directed the creation and implementation of a new visual identity for the university.

As vice president for university relations, Ackerman is responsible for the offices of Community Relations, Creative Services, Electronic Publications, Events Management, Information Services, Media Relations, Multimedia, and Photography.

Prior to joining Mason, Ackerman served as assistant public relations officer at the Western Australian Institute of Technology in Perth, Western Australia, and as a journalist with Western Australian newspapers.

She received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Western Australia in Perth and earned a master’s degree in English from George Mason.